bambooXZX's personal blog, mostly dedicated to song lyrics translation from Japanese to English.

Free! – SPLASH FREE

Was a little tricky to get the verse before the second chorus into a rendering I liked – I wanted to keep it possible to interpret it both completely sequentially and as two lines of thought, while still staying coherent. I think I did okay. I was also a little looser with punctuation than usual.

Make us free, Splash! Here, within the contrast of overlapping rays of light,
Keep your eyes alert for a summer that’ll never come to an end, yeah
In your own style, sei! sei! sei! a-oh
Just be yourself and kick! kick! kick! a-oh
Into the brightness, pull! pull! pull! a-oh
Arms outstretched, deep! deep! deep! Splash Free

Some days I just can’t stand it, you know (you know), floating back & forth.
Maybe I’ll appear to be feeling just fine, (I know, I know)
But I’m actually jealous inside. (but never too late, ah)

At the tips of my toes, (before I could feel it,)
The next vibration. (I realized it was here)
Caught in some hesitation – (the self I’ll be someday)
Fly beyond the shadow that’s holding you back. (the wave is only here right now)
You can’t hold on (like kicking at the water)
To this unrealistic pride. (in a smooth and fluid line)
If you think this is the best you can be, (wo-o-oh) you’re gonna dwindle down. (come on!)
Throw away your image!

Make us free, Splash! Here, within the contrast of overlapping rays of light,
Burn into your memory this summer that’ll never come to end – Dive in blue!
Let’s find a free Style! Touching the blue that’s born, a blue no one’s ever been,
We’ll become our new selves, with more freedom than we’ve ever known, yeah
In your own style, sei! sei! sei! a-oh
Just be yourself and kick! kick! kick! a-oh
Into the brightness, pull! pull! pull! a-oh
Arms outstretched, deep! deep! deep! Splash Free